Apparatus for expanding a tubular member
An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member includes a support member comprising a fluid passage, an expansion device for radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular member movably coupled to the support member for longitudinal displacement relative to the support member, a plurality of pressure chambers defined by and positioned between the support member and the expansion device fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage, one or more releasable supports coupled to the support member adapted to support the tubular member positioned above the expansion device.
1. An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member, comprising:
a support member comprising a fluid passage;
an expansion device for radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular member movably coupled to the support member for longitudinal displacement relative to the support member;
a plurality of pressure chambers defined by and positioned between the support member and the expansion device fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage; and
one or more releasable supports coupled to the support member adapted to support the tubular member positioned above the expansion device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid passage comprises a throat passage having a reduced inner diameter.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the pressure chambers are at least partially defined by annular pistons.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the releasable supports comprise hydraulic slips.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the releasable supports comprise mechanical slips.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the releasable supports comprise drag blocks.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the expansion device includes:
a plurality of annular pistons; and
one or more expansion cones coupled to the annular pistons.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein one or more of the annular pistons comprise an expansion cone.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pressure chambers comprise annular pressure chambers.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the releasable supports engage a radially non-expanded portion of the tubular member.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pressure chambers comprise expandable pressure chambers.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the expansion device comprises a tapered outer expansion surface having an angle of attack ranging from about 5 to 30 degrees; wherein the tapered outer expansion surface of the expansion device comprises a D2 steel; and wherein the tapered outer expansion surface of the expansion device comprises a surface hardness ranging from about 58 to 62 Rockwell C.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tubular member comprises a pipeline member.
14. An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member, comprising:
a support member comprising a fluid passage that defines a throat passage;
an expansion device for radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular member movably coupled to the support member for longitudinal displacement relative to the support member;
a plurality of pressure chambers defined by and positioned between the support member and expansion device fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage; and
releasable supports coupled to the support member adapted to support the tubular member;
wherein the releasable supports are positioned above the expansion device;
wherein the expansion device comprises:
annular pistons that mate with and receives the support member and are received by and mate with the tubular member;
a tubular extension coupled to the annular pistons; and
an annular tapered expansion cone coupled to an end of the tubular extension.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the releasable supports comprise:
one or more hydraulic slips coupled to the support member and fluidicly coupled to the fluid passage of the support member.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the releasable supports comprise:
one or more hydraulic slips coupled to the support member and fluidicly coupled to the fluid passage of the support member for engaging a radially non-expanded portion of the tubular member;
one or more mechanical slips coupled to the support member and positioned above the expansion device adapted to controllably engage the radially non-expanded portion of the tubular member; and
one or more drag blocks coupled to the support member and positioned above the expansion device adapted to controllably engage the radially non-expanded portion of the tubular member.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the expansion device comprises a tapered outer expansion surface having an angle of attack ranging from about 5 to 30 degrees; wherein the tapered outer expansion surface of the expansion device comprises a D2 steel; and wherein the tapered outer expansion surface of the expansion device comprises a surface hardness ranging from about 58 to 62 Rockwell C.
18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the releasable supports engage a radially expanded portion of the tubular member.
19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the expandable tubular member comprises a pipeline member.